Jump to content
  • Sign Up
×
×
  • Create New...
New feature: 1 Vote = 0.10€ for server Owner!

Joshlin Smith’s mother convicted of kidnapping daughter in South Africa

Pelican Press

By Pelican Press,
in World News

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Diamond Member
Pelican Press Warlord

Pelican Press 0

Posted
  • Diamond Member
Posted

This is the hidden content, please

Joshlin Smith’s mother convicted of kidnapping daughter in South Africa

Wedaeli Chibelushi

BBC News

This is the hidden content, please
This is the hidden content, please

Joshlin Smith has not been found more than a year after she went missing

The mother of a South African girl, who disappeared aged six more than a year ago, has been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking her daughter.

Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were arrested after Smith’s daughter, Joshlin, went missing from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, in February last year.

Appollis and Rhyn were also found guilty on Friday of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin. All three had previously pleaded not guilty to to these charges.

Joshlin’s disappearance sent shockwaves across South Africa and despite a highly publicised search for her, she is yet to be found.

During the trial, held in March, prosecutors accused Smith of having “sold, delivered or exchanged” Joshlin and then lied about her disappearance.

Smith wiped tears from her eyes when the guilty verdict was read, while van Rhyn inexplicably broke into a smile.

Applause rippled through the packed court room and some onlookers began to cry.

The trial was held in Saldanha’s Multipurpose Centre to cater for the huge public interest.

Ahead of the verdict, nearby roads had been closed, while police officers were deployed in and around the centre.

Smith’s trial captivated South Africa, with witnesses and prosecutors making a number of shocking allegations.

The most explosive came from Lourentia Lombaard, a friend and neighbour of Smith who turned state witness.

Ms Lombaard alleged that Smith told her she had done “something silly” and sold Joshlin to a traditional healer, known in South Africa as a “sangoma”.

The “person who [allegedly took] Joshlin wanted her for her eyes and skin”, Ms Lombaard told the court.

A local pastor testified that in 2023, he had heard Smith – a mother of three – talk of selling her children for 20,000 rand ($1,100; £850) each, though she had said she was willing to accept a lower figure of $275.

Joshlin’s teacher then alleged in court that Ms Smith had told her during the search that her daughter was already “on a ship, inside a container, and they were on the way to West Africa”.

This is the hidden content, please
/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png">AFP

Several shocking allegations were made against Kelly Smith, Joshlin’s mother, during the trial

Smith’s lawyer, Rinesh Sivnarain, cast doubt on these allegations. He cited inconsistencies – recognised by the prosecution – in Ms Lombaard’s remarks and suggested she was an “opportunist”.

Sangomas are legally recognised in South Africa under the Traditional Health Practitioners Act of 2007, alongside herbalists, traditional birth attendants and traditional surgeons.

Some charlatans are involved in unscrupulous traditional so-called cures, and have been known to sell good luck charms that involve body parts.

More BBC stories on the Joshlin Smith case:

This is the hidden content, please
BBC


This is the hidden content, please

#Joshlin #Smiths #mother #convicted #kidnapping #daughter #South #Africa

This is the hidden content, please

This is the hidden content, please

0

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Vote for the server

    To vote for this server you must login.

    Jim Carrey Flirting GIF

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Important Information

Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.

  I accept